Community: 07.18.08

AARP Texas will hold a Scam Jam crime prevention event from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cole Park Amphitheater. Lone Star Shredding and Document Storage will have a shredding truck on site to allow participants to safety discard outdated personal and financial documents for free. Local law enforcement officials will provide information on how to protect yourself from fraud. Information: 886-2568.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter, is seeking people to help with the 19th annual Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach Ride 2008. Valero Bike to the Beach is a two-day, 160-mile ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, with an overnight stay in Beeville, the weekend of Oct. 4- 5. Join representatives from the Lone Star Chapter from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the YWCA to learn about the many volunteer opportunities that are available.

Grande Communications donated $3,600 to Corpus Christi Hope House Inc. on Monday. The donation will fund Corpus Christi Hope House's mission to provide shelter and assistance to women and their children facing crisis. Clients are offered stability with long-term housing as well as financial assistance to complete or continue their education. Programs are offered by Hope House to give women in need the tools to develop the skills necessary to maintain a place within the community. The funds came from Grande's Passion & Commitment Investment Club in which employees donate a percentage of their salary.

Police to hold fundraiser to benefit needy children

The Fraternal Order of Police will host a fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McDonald's, 4031 Saratoga Blvd., to kick off its drive to raise money for the 2008 Shop with a Cop program. McDonald's will donate 10 percent of sales during the event to the program, in which children receive items they need. The program is in its eleventh year and has a goal of helping more than 200 children this year.

Checks may be made payable to Shop With A Cop Inc. and mailed to: P.O. Box 440, Corpus Christi, TX 78401. Information: shopwithacop@fop.net.

Outdoor recreation program begins Monday

Teen Trekkers, a free adventure-based outdoor recreation program available to kids ages 13-17 who live in or attend school in the 78415 ZIP code or who live in Flour Bluff, will start Monday. The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department, 78415 Community Youth Development Program and the Weed & Seed Program organize the camp, which will include kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, high-energy field trips, environmental awareness, team building activities, swimming and fishing. Teen Trekkers is available Mnday through July 25 and Aug. 4-8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Each session is limited to 20 participants; early registration is encouraged. Information: 826-3157.

Parents attend autism confab

Local parents Jessica Garza and Mark Escalante were among 8,000 autism awareness activists who attended a Green Our Vaccines rally last month in Washington, D.C.

While at the rally, Garza and Escalante met fellow activists and hosts Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey.

Garza and Escalante's son, Markie, 5, was diagnosed with autism on his second birthday.

After reading McCarthy's book about accepting her son Evan's autism diagnosis, "Louder Than Words," Garza began to get involved in raising awareness about autism and possible treatments.

Host families needed for foreign exchange students

Families are needed to host foreign exchange students from 65 countries. Deadline to place students in homes is Aug. 29. Information: 800-634-4771, ayp@cc-exchange.com or www.cci-exchange.com/host.htm

Folks needed to help paint the Port Aransas Museum

Volunteers are needed to help paint the Port Aransas Museum, 101 E. Brundrett in Port Aransas, on Saturday. Volunteers can sign-up at the building site throughout the day or by e-mail to ggbun7@centurytel.net or the2ofus@stx.rr.com.

Grande donates $1,500 to Taking Back the Streets

Grande Communications presented Taking Back the Streets in the Name of Jesus Christ Ministries Inc. with a $1,500 grant from its Passion & Commitment Investment Club in which Grande employees donate a percentage of their salary. The check presentation was made Thursday at Taking Back the Streets, 2832 S Alameda St.

Yummies raises $1,200 for Lance Cpl. Justin Rokohl

Yummies Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour, 1007 Highway 181 in Portland, held a car (car show), neighbor and apple pie benefit for U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin Rokohl on July 12. Yummies donated $1 for every burger and apple pie a la mode sold during that time to the Rokohl Value Bank fund. Yummies raised $1,200 for the Rokohl fund.